Jun. 2, 2006 - back home
well, we're back home now. I have had a few days of recollecting myself and getting back to weekly duties. I so appreciated the prayer about being gentle to the children b/c we all needed it this week especially. I started right in with training the 2dd2.5 to use the potty. I didn't wait b/c I knew she was interested right before we left for the trip. I didn't want that stress for either of us while driving as much as we did (we put 4200 miles on our van over the 18 days we were gone). So she stayed in diapers during that time. I ran out of diapers so I said this is as good a time as any to start training. That was Tuesday. She has done ok. If I forget to take her to the toilet on a regular basis, she doesn't put in the say-so that she needs to go. She has had 3 poopy accidents. Yesterday was especially difficult as I had 2 friends visiting yesterday at different times and so it took up the whole day from 10:30am to 3pm. That was when she had 2 poopy accidents. Last night though, we went to church for just a short time, I took her and she went there and then when we got in the van to leave she said something about going pee. I said we'll go when we get home, and she had dry pants and a full little potty chair. So I was very encouraged about that. I did have some stress over a bill that was due on Tuesday. I opened it up on Tuesday. We were looking for it before we left and hadn't gotten it. I thought it might be due so I went ahead and opened it before we worked on our money (which we were going to do that night). I called about seeing if we could send it in tomorrow b/c we just got back from vacation. The girl said they couldn't change the day and it would be $39 late fee. Or I could do it over the phone right then for $5. Of course the obvious choice is to go do right then, but my husband and I don't work like that. I wanted to know what to do. So I called him and bothered him at work while on the phone to the girl. She did not like that and said call back, but I said "No-no. I waited 20 minutes just to get connected with a real person." I felt like she was hollering at me. I'm not usually the one who takes care of matters like this. My husband does so much better than I do in these situations. He doesn't take these business dealings personally like I do. It may be a character flaw on my part, but in any case it brought me to tears having to deal with her and the bill and not knowing what to do. That was Tuesday. Yesterday I had a termite expection at 8:30am and a friend visit at 10:30. She had lunch with us and stayed until another friend came at 1:30. This friend stayed until 3pm. Now my friends' visits were great and I'm glad they didn't mind a messy-right-back-from-vacation-house. I enjoyed my time with them very much and they each had one child with them and so my kids had fun too. I did have to fix dinner right after they left and be ready to get to church for a class. My husband got stuck in traffic, so the kids and I ate and went to church and were going to meet him there. When we got there, there was no childcare. I was asked if I'd reserved it. My husband had b/c he was supposed to record the class (part of his church job). He was asked a while back. I called on Tuesday to make sure about childcare for this class (I had also called about a few other things). So when we got there and there was no childcare, the coordinator called all the people on her list and couldn't find anyone. So I took the kids home. I have had worse disappointments and if I can't handle a disappointment like this, what's going to happen when something really awful happens? So it was really no big deal, except I felt like I'd rushed around for no reason. Anyway, I have lots of other thoughts about this, but I don't have time to type them out. I talked it out last night w/ my husband anyway. I read an encouraging verse from Scripture on May 31st and wanted to type it out here. Psalm 119:143-144 says, "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me understand them so I may live." This is the New Living Translation. I know some of my friends have a hard time with other translations, but sometimes I see a need for someone to use a different word not to change the meaning of the text but so I can pick up on it and it can speak to me specifically. Would I have not grasped this verse if "pressure and stress" (which I'm familiar with) were not used? I didn't intend to offend anyone, I'm just getting some thoughts out. I really hope you have a wonderful, joyful day.Comments
Jun. 6, 2006 - So glad you are back
Posted by FaithfulGrace
safe and sound from your trip. wow..you did put on the miles.
big {{{{hugs}}}}as you get back into your routine. I'm so thankful for your sharing of the pressurers and stressors in your life. I'm glad I'm not the only person with stressors in life. But you picked a fabulous verse to put in your armor.
Look forward to reading more of your blogging, especially the potty training, an experience that will be happening here soon.
Wishing you a blessed week,
Linda
